Over a decade ago, Alex Morgan started rising to stardom with her first World Cup in 2011 for the U.S. Women’s National Team. She became the first player ever to record a goal and an assist in the World Cup final and helped her team to a silver finish. 

After scoring a record 28 goals and 21 assists in 2012, she was nominated for the ESPY Award for Best Breakthrough Athlete. Since then, she has seen a steady rise to fame, bagging awards and accolades, and becoming a soccer sensation. So who is her inspiration?

Alex Morgan names soccer legend as her idol

The 33-year-old champion has spoken up several times detailing her love for none other than Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi. “Messi is an incredible soccer player. I admire him,” said Alex Morgan during an interview with BarcaTV in 2016.

She continued, “I like to watch him play. He [Messi] is out of this world and he is on another level. He can do so much with the ball on his feet and he is the best player in the world.” The San Diego Wave FC captain has even chipped in on the age-old Ronaldo vs Messi debate.

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Her choice? A firm supporter in Messi’s corner as the world’s best soccer player. “I would have to say, Messi,” Morgan claimed. “He’s just so much better… He’s a level higher than any other player I watch. A really exciting player to watch.” 

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And Morgan herself is so good that in 2013, The Bleacher Report crowned her as “the Lionel Messi of Women’s Soccer”, showering compliments for her skill as a forward and playmaker. She even joined Messi on the FIFA 16 Xbox video game cover!

Morgan recently celebrated her 33rd birthday

Earlier this week, USWNT won against Colombia at an international friendly game, preparing for the forthcoming CONCACAF ‘W’ championship. It marked Alex Morgan’s 192nd appearance with the United States Women’s National Team, and on July 2nd, they celebrated her birthday south of the border.

She co-captained the USWNT with Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe from 2018 to 2020, helped them win the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cups, and received the Silver Boot in 2019. After the London 2012 Olympics, Morgan became U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year and was a FIFA World Player of the Year finalist.

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She is one of the highest-paid female soccer players in the world and signed up for the Common Goal campaign in 2017 wherein players donate 1% of their wages to support soccer-related charities. She’s currently married to the soccer player, Servando Carrasco, and they have a beautiful daughter together.